MP3 Monday: LAVA/OX/SEA
By Morgan Short, Mar 2nd, 2009 | In Nightlife
MP3 Monday is a weekly SmartShanghai column, serving up mp3s from bands living and making music in China (or coming to China, or thinking about coming to China, or whatever). Right click on the links and choose "Save Link As..." to download 'em. Click play to rock 'em.
This week's MP3s are from Hefei-based post rock (ish) band LAVA/OX/SEA, who are coming to Shanghai this month to open for New Yawk band Battles and PK14 on March 28.
So here's some stuff for you to download so you can check out them out and see that not only should you be looking forward to Battles and PK14, but also this first band on the bill LAVA/OX/SEA. They've played (I think) two shows in Shanghai since forming a few years ago, both at Yuyintang. A three-piece releasing stuff off Heifei-based indie label Miniless Records. You can read an older interview with Hans about Miniless records here -- he's also the guitar player in this band. Musically, LAVA/OX/SEA is coming from jam-style post rock -- extensive guitar solo action -- but pushes it in the direction of math rock. Plus there's some singing in places too.
It's kinda Radiohead-ey, so if you like them, download these. Also if you like Beijing bands Re-TROS and/or PK14, you should be alright with these as well.
This first song is wicked awesome.
LAVA/OX/SEA ¨C Concrete Avalanche
LAVA/OX/SEA ¨C Home Hell (Catastrophe Of)
LAVA/OX/SEA ¨C 3+6
These MP3s are from a live recording done by the band at Yuyintang on December 20, 2008, released over the Miniless Records website. This is the second time they've released material recorded off live shows at Yuyintang (the first one being a really great July 26 concert in 2008). This newer album is facetiously called "Heavy Metal Music is the Best Music." The recording is better this time around, but it's still a distant second to seeing the band live, so make sure you show up on time for that Battles concert to check out LAVA/OX/SEA. You can download both recordings, but you can also order them to have the hard copy (with neat-o album artwork), as well as other recordings by Miniless bands over Taobao here.
Check out their MySpace page as well for live videos and other stuff.
Image of the band by Matthew Niederhauser. Purple mountains photo is from LAVA/OX/SEA's "Beloved, Our Deserted Landscape" live album.
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